The 319th Bomb Squadron was the
first to arrive in Australia. They arrived at
Amberley Airfield west of Brisbane on 23
October 1942 after a long 11 hour trip from Nandi on the island of Viti Levi in
the Fiji Islands. They flew to Mareeba Airfield in north Queensland on 24 October 1942 after short stopover
at Garbutt Airfield in Townsville.
The B-24 of 1st Lt. Paul E. Johnson broke a rocker arm and had one of its
engines fail as it approached Mareeba. It landed safely.

The 321st Bomb Squadron arrived at
Amberley Airfield on 31 October 1942 .
They had flown from Plaines desGaiacs airfield which is located 116 miles north
west of Noumea, New Caledonia. The 321st Bomb Squadron flew to
Mareeba Airfield on 1 November
1942.

One group of the 320th Bomb Squadron
left Hawaii on 29 October 1942 with another group leaving on 1 November 1942.
They followed the same route as the 321st Bomb Squadron.

The 320th had earlier flown from
Long Beach Army Air Field, Long Beach California, via Hamilton Field, San
Rafael, California to Hickam Field, Oahu, T.H., where they reported to the C G
of the Hawaiian Defense Comman Theater. Crew No 68-Y-4 was first aircraft to fly
the route. The second aircraft was flown by 2nd Lt John D. Ewing, details as
follows:-

The 400th Bomb Squadron began
leaving Hawaii on 31 October 1942 again following the same route as the 321st
Bomb Squadron.

The 90th Bomb Group had arrived in Queensland with
all of their forty-eight B-24D Liberators. They had not lost one single aircraft
during their 5,000 mile journey, just a few minor incidents.

The ground echelon
of the 90th Bomb Group left Honolulu Harbour at 11:00am on 8 November 1942 on
board the SS Republic and SS Torrens. They were escorted by the battleships USS
Colorado and USS Maryland and four destroyers. They arrived off Townsville
in north Queensland on 24 November 1942. SS Torrens docked at the Townsville
wharves on 25 November 1942. The men disembarked and were taken to
Armstrong's Paddock, a US Army
Staging area in Townsville.

Arlie Porter, was a member of the
320th Bomb Squadron. Arlie was in one of the first crews when the 90th Bomb
Group formed in Barksdale Field, Louisana after it was initiated in
Mississippi. He recalled arriving on a ship at
Townsville and sleeping in a tent in a cow pasture, namely Armstrong's Paddock.
Arlie only there for one or two days. He spent some time in Iron Range, then was
stationed in Port Moresby as a member of Paul Gotke's crew on "Moby Dick".

The 90th Bomb Group was initially based as
follows at Iron Range near the top of Cape York Peninsula, 16 kms inland from the port of
facility of Portland Roads:-

Arrived Iron Range

Departed Iron Range

319th Bomb Squadron

13 Nov 42

2 Feb 43

320th Bomb Squadron

13 Nov 42

21 Jan 43

321st Bomb Squadron

19 Nov 42

10 Feb 43

400th Bomb Squadron

13 Nov 42

abt 22 Mar 43

When the 90th Bomb Group arrived at
Iron Range,
the two strips named Claudie and Gordon, were still unfinished and not sealed. Tents were
pitched amongst the trees for accommodation. Conditions were primitive. Snakes, insects,
scorpions, etc were prevalent. The men of the 90th Bomb Group described it as the worst
airfield they were ever posted at during the war.

On 16 November 1942 a Liberator crashed during
take-off (see above) killing 11 men and damaging four aircraft. The first B-24 that took
off on this raid on Rabaul, #41-11902 "Punjab", vanished without a trace on this
mission. It was piloted by the Commanding Officer of the 320th Squadron, Major Raymond S.
Morse. Also on board was the Group Commander, Colonel Arthur W. Meehan, who was co-pilot.
This loss in combination with the above crash caused some significant morale problems
amongst the men of the 90th Bomb Group.

The 319th Squadron moved to Fenton airfield
south of Darwin. Fenton was named after Clyde Fenton, the Flying Doctor pioneer.

From the middle of 1944, the Liberators of 90th
Bomb Group were a natural metal finish. They were adorned with the Skull and
Cross Bombs markings of the Jolly Roger. The insignia was designed by Sgt. Leonard
Baer. He made a large aluminium stencil. Each of the various Squadrons had a
different colour background:-

319th Squadron
Blue background

320th Squadron
Red background

321st Squadron
Green background

400th Squadron
Black background

The nose of the Liberators in the 320th Squadron
were painted with a shark's mouth. This was known as the "Moby Dick" squadron.

The "Jolly Rogers" were based at Iron Range for some time. They were also based a Fenton, 80 miles inland from Darwin.

Art
Rogers and the famous Skull and Cross
Bombs of the "Jolly Roger" Bomb Group

Colonel Art Rogers was the Commanding Officer of
the 90th Bomb Group.

Photo:- from Bob Tupa

90th Bomb Group Awards Ceremony

Left to Right:- Possibly
General Ramey, Colonel Arthur (Art)
Rogersthe Commanding Officer of the
90th Bomb Group, Major John "Big Jim" Davies, and Capt Norman Lawler the90th Bomb Group Adjutant

Photo:- from Bob Tupa

Earl Seeber
believes that the above recipient is his brother
Staff Sergeant William C. Seeber of the 400th Bomb Squadron who
died in New Guinea on20 June 1943 as a result of injuries sustained
when he was struck by a bomb trailer at APO 929.

Photo:- from Bob Tupa

It was
initially believed that this may be T/Sgt Robert L.Wehrell
from
Midland Park, N.J receiving his medal. See paragraph below for more information.Who is the person receiving the
above medal?

Photo:- via John Hillegass

Paul James Hillegass of the 319th Bomb Squadron,
90th Bomb Group. His son
John Hillegass told me that during WW2 his father received the Silver Star, DFC,
Air Medal,
and Purple Heart for service as a nose gunner on B-24s in the
South West Pacific Area

The sons of T/Sgt Robert L.Wehrell
who is mentioned in the description under photo above, have now advised via Earl
Seeber that they have a photo of their father
being awarded the DFC and a newspaper article saying the award was made by Brig.
General Roger Ramey. Neither the picture or the news article is dated nor is the
date of the award ceremony mentioned in the article. One of the brothers told
Earl that the background in the photo that they have is identical to the
background of the photo above. One of the sons told Earl that he thought that
the ceremony had probably taken place after 19 July 1943, the date of the
General Order from the 5th Air Force listing the many men who would be awarded
the DFC. His father's name was on that list. That order came ten days after he
and the rest of the 319th Squadron were transferred back to Port Moresby, New
Guinea from Fenton Field south of Darwin, Australia. They arrived in Port
Moresby from Fenton on 9th and 10th of July 1943. The 319th had been flying out
of Fenton since 2 February 1943 when they were split off from the other
squadrons of the 90th BG based at Port Moresby and assigned to work with the
RAAF command in the area of Darwin. One of the sons said "My father remembers
that the ceremony took place in New Guinea but not the date".
Can anyone please help sort out who the person is in
the above photograph?

The following photographs from Bob
Tupa are of aircraft that took part in the 16 November 1942 raid according to
the list in Wiley Woods' book.

As you can see,
the Jolly Roger's squadron got all the limelight. Bob Hope was at Biak on 25 August 1944
putting on a special show for the Air Corps. He is seen in the "Jolly Rogers"
staff car holding a captured Japanese flag which was presented to him.

And it gets
even better for the "Jolly Rogers" boys. Hollywood actress Carole Landis must've
been a big hit with the boys of the 90th Bomb Group. Carole is standing in front of the
tail of B-24J, #44-40340, "Buck Benny Rides Again" at Hollandia in August 1944.

On 29 August 2000 I received an e-mail from Paul
Holst who told me that he had been looking at this 90th Bomb Group web page with
his uncle James Marvin Riggs from Versailles, Missouri, USA, who had served with the 320th Squadron from 1943 to 1946. When
they got to the above photograph of Carole Landis wearing the flight jacket,
Paul's uncle said he remembered her and he said, "that's my jacket." Paul
thought that he just meant he had owned a jacket like that while he was with the
90th BG, but he said he was on the flight line the day that Carole Landis came
out to the planes, (he refuelled the B-24s), and he had his jacket in his truck
and lent it to the star to have her picture taken in. Paul Holst advised me in
September 2007 that his uncle Marvin passed away in 2004.

Photo:- from Bob Tupa

Jack Benny in #44-40340 "Buck Benny Rides Again"

These photographs are from
"Doc" whose father was in the
320th Bomb Squadron of the 90th Bomb Group from April 1942 till the end.
Unfortunately "Doc" did not tell me his name or his father's name.

Photo: from John Farrell

319th Squadron being led by John Farrell
headed for Balikpapan Borneo.

Photo: from John Farrell

View of the 90th Bomb Groups base at Nadzab, New Guinea.

Photo: from John Farrell

John Farrell is on the far left in the back row.
1st Lt. Albert F. Rogan
(Navigator) is the middle person in the back row. Usher Francis
(Tailgunner)
from Alto, Texas is the person in the middle of the front row.

On 15 October 2000, John Farrell told me that he landed his B-24 at
Townsville in March 1944 before heading on to
Nadzab, New Guinea to join the 90th Bomb Group. He stayed in
Townsville for three days and he remembered it
was the first time he had eaten steak and eggs. He also also dimly remembered
taking a ferry to Magnetic Island off the coast of
Townsville. He remember walking about town and over a bridge near the main
street. The people were warm and friendly and he often wished he had gone back
there after the war.

William R. Roedel was assistant ground crew chief
in the 320th "Red Tails" for the aircraft nicknamed "The Dude". He painted the
nose art on the plane. The pilot of "The Dude" was William Gentry who apparently
looked like Clark Gable and wore buff yellow gauntlets while flying. William R.
Roedel painted a top hat and cane along with the gauntlets as the nose art
symbol. Gentry was later killed while flying a mercy mission in an SBD.

Earl E. Starkey, was a co-pilot in the 320th Bomb
Squadron (and later in the 400th BS) of the 90th Bomb Group, beginning in
September of 1943. He was initially part of the crew of Lt. H. C. Mills. In
February 1944, he became ill and was in the hospital and recuperating in
Brisbane for a long time in 1944. During that time, he met Olive Thomas Bradbury
of Brisbane. Earl E. Strakey later returned to duty with the 400th BS of the
90th Bomb Group and was a relief pilot with a number of different crews until
the end of the war. He brought his Australian bride back to the United States.
Unfortunately and tragically, she contracted polio and died in San Antonio, TX,
in 1953. Earl remarried and remained in the service and retired from the U.S.
Air Force in 1969. In August of 1978, he died as a result of a prolonged fight
with cancer.

On 9 July 2000, I was contacted by Richard G.
("Dick") Mills, brother of 2Lt/1Lt/Capt James E. ("Jimmy") Mills, pilot on a
replacement crew that joined the 320th Squadron at Port Moresby in early/mid
1943. They flew out all their missions together, and rotated home together in
March 1944. After his co-pilot Andy Muri got his own crew, 1/Lt Peterson became
the crew's co-pilot. Other crew members were: -

The following is from the Diary of Warren E.
Rollins of "E" Battery of the 197 CAAA New Hampshire National Guard:-

Jan 2. 1943 The 400th'
Bomb Group (sic Squadron) lost another plane at Port Moresby. It crashed on
takeoff. There were six survivors.

Jan. 3, 1943 Hot and damp. I
saw a P-39 a P-40 and a P-38 land today. It is the first time I have seen a
P-38 on the ground.

Jan 5, 1943. We moved the
tent closer to the gun pit today. My name was turned in to Battalion Hdqtrs
today for promotion to Sgt. Hot and muggy. Had to spread crushed gravel on
floor of tent. It was to muddy.

Jan. 10, 1943 A B-24 made a crash landing
because the brakes didn't work and would have gone off the end of the runway
into the trees. It landed on the tail with some damage.

Jan. 13, 1943 Test fired the guns in the
gun pits. My machine guns fired good and checked out fine.

Jan. 16, 1943 The batry officers check
the positions often. we know when they are coming

Jan. 18, 1943 Test fired the guns and
then cleaned them. The guns are manned 24 hours a day I checked the guard lat
12;30 at night.

Jan 22, 1943 It is rumoured that
the 90th Bomb Group is going to move to New Guinea and Us with them. The Japs
bombed Milne Bay and port Moresby today.

Jan 2?, 1943. They gave us three cans of
hot beer today.3.2 The first beer in 6 months for us.

Jan 26. 1943 I am in charge of the
water for the gun crews this month. I picked up the barrels and filled them a
the engineers place in the jungle.

Jan 26, 43 The
roads are almost impassable because of the mud . It rains every day. We have
to get the chlorinated water.

Feb. 13, 43 It rains hard
every day now that the monsoon season has started.

Feb. 13, 43 The 3 inch guns
test fired today.

Feb. 24, 43 WE are able to
jerry rig lights from the wire from all the wrecked planes here

Feb. 24, 43 We are getting
ready for the new colonel to visit Iron Range
soon. He will bring our payroll money. (Footnote This is the Colonel that was
killed when the new plane crashed on the island.)

Feb 26, 43 Talked with
Aussie friend today

Feb. 26, 43 A P-39 made a
crash landing on Gordon strip. The front wheel was stuck. Not much damage. A
P-39 while taking off on Claudia strip got a flat tire and skidded around. At
this time most of the troops have left Iron Range
for Port Darwin and New Guinea

March 6, 43 We are now attending
classes on the 40 MM Bofor. They will issue them to us soon.

March 7, 43 We had an air raid
alert this morning but no air raid

March 14, 43 It rained so hard today
there was a foot of water on the runway. Our gun pits keep filling with water.

March 20, 43 Lt Richard Coughlin
Inspected our guns. Sgt Clemons is on the other gun in my section.

March 10, 43 Cairns raided today 130
miles away. (Note:- I am not aware of any Jap raid on Cairns - Maybe it was a
recce aircraft)

April 4, 43 We
have a diet of kangaroo meat and wild boar.

April 9, 43 They
are rebuilding the runways for heavy bombers now.

April 13, 43 Got a report
that Japanese had landed 150 miles away. An un identified plane flew over all
guns were alerted. There were two alerts yesterday

April 14, 43 Unidentified
planes flew over the jetty. They expect air raids any time now

April 15, 43 Two more alerts
today

April 16. 43 Yellow alert
today plane 50 miles away

April 20, 43 Runways are
ready for use. Two Bristol Beauforts and a DC3 landed on the new drome. The
weather is fine now with a full moon and cooler. We are now able to listen to
the Japanese stations on a radio now Tokyo Rose and she gives the name of our
unit.

March 21,43 We loaded the btry onto
a freighter at the jetty. The name of the boat that will take us to New Guinea
is the Dutch Freighter the Duntroon.

Can anyone hep me with
more information
and photographs of the 90th Bomb Group?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Susan A. Wolfe,
the daughter of Capt. John Donald Ewing, DFC of the "Jolly Rogers" for her assistance
with this web page. Captain Ewing flew "Big Emma" from Long Beach Army Air Field, Long Beach California to Hawaii.
It is unclear which aircraft he then flew through to Mareeba in Australia.

I'd also like to thank Bob Tupa,
grandson of Capt Norman Lawler, the90th Bomb Group Adjutant, for his assistance with this web page.

I'd also like to
thank Earl Seeber, Paul Holst, Richard G. Mills, Randy Starkey and John
Hillegass for their
assistance with this web page.

I'd like to thank Jeff Slocum from
Longview, Texas for his assistance with this web page.

I'd also like to thank Gerald N. "Jerry" Rogan,
son of 1st Lt. Albert F. Rogan for his assistance with this web page.

REFERENCE BOOK

The Forgotten Fifth"A Classic Photographic Chronology of the
Fifth Air Force in Action in the Pacific in WW2"
by Michael Claringbould

"Legacy of the
90th Bombardment Group - The Jolly Rogers"
by Wiley O. Woods, Jr.